Method of making fiber torpedo-cases.



F. BUTCHER. METHOD OF MAKING FIBER TORPEDO GASES.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 191.0. 99 1,282.

. Patented May 2, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E NORRIS FETER! '0., WASHINGTON n c F. BUTCHER. METHOD OF MAKING FIBERTORPEDO GASES.

A-IPLIOATION FILED AUG. 25, 1910.

Patented'May 2, 1911.

z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK DUTCI-IER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF MAKING FIBER TORPEDO-CASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 25, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1911. Serial No. 578,984.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCHER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in the Method of Making Fiber Torpedo-Cases, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in the method of making fibertorpedo cases.

The object of my present invention is to manufacture from a sheet offibrous material an open ended fiber torpedo case having formed withinthe wall of its bottom a longitudinal strap receiving slot, whereby acheap and effective case is provided, having incorporated therein meansfor attaching thereto a rail-engaging torpedo.

In the accompanying drawingFigure 1 is a perspective view showing thefirst step of the method. Fig. 2 shows that step of the method by whichthe longitudinal slot is formed. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of thecompleted tube 'with the mandrels therein. Fig. 4 is an end view showingthe compression step. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a completedelongated tube, the mandrels removed. Fig. 6 is a detached perspectiveView of a completed torpedo case.

One of the difficulties which manufacturers of fiber case torpedoes haveencountered for years is the provision of simple, cheap and effectivemeans for attaching to the fiber case a rail-engaging strap without theuse of strap attaching members in addition to the case itself. By meansof my present method, I am enabled to produce an open ended fibertorpedo case which has embodied in the bottom wall thereof alongitudinally extending strap;retaining slot, thus avoiding thenecessity and the expense of additional retaining elements and theexpense of applying those additional retaining elements.

In practicing my method, I form an elongated tube which is afterward cutup into suitable lengths for cases which is economical, but so far asthe method of forming the case tube is concerned, the method may be usedin making a tube of the length of the torpedo case. In carrying out mymethod, a sheet of paper or fiber 1, is placed upon a plate 2, thelatter being a little larger than the sheet. The sheet is then coatedwith paste and a mandrel 3 is placed upon the sheet, the edge of themandrel being in line with one edge of the sheet 1. This mandrel is of acontour corresponding to the desired general contour of the completedtorpedo case. The mandrel 3 is then turned by hand in the directionindicated by the arrow a, Fig. 1, which wraps the fiber sheet around themandrel, the mandrel being of a length greater than the width of thesheet to provide projecting ends 4, by means of which the mandrel isturned. When the sheet 1 is partially wrapped around the mandrel 3 toleave, for instance, about two thicknesses to pass over the bottom 5 ofthe mandrel, a second mandrel 6, is placed on the outside of thepartially wrapped sheet and at the bottom thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.The two mandrels are then turned together and the balance of the sheetwrapped therearound as indicated in Fig. 3, which leaves the outer end 7of the sheet, at one side of the bottom 8 of the tube. This wrapping isdone by hand and leaves the spaces 9 at opposite sides of the mandrel 6,as shown in F 3. The mandrels with the wrapped sheet then in the form ofa tube, are compressed in dies, as shown in Fig. 4. The under die 10 hasa recess 11, corresponding in shape to the top 12 of the tube or torpedocase, while the upper die 14 is provided with a central slot 15 and flatportions 16 at the side of this slot. The top die 14 forces the two lastwrappings 17 of the sheet in contact with the other wrapped portion ofthe sheet, as shown in Fig. 4 and directly cements them. In addition,the pressure of these dies compresses all of the wrappings tightlytogether, giving them a sharply fixed contour and fixes them tightlytogether before the cement or paste is dried, and also forms a decidedand permanent slot 18, formed directly in the bottom wall of the case,through which the rail-engaging strap is quickly and easily passed bythe operator in the factory, and at any desired step in the completionof the torpedo.

It will be, of course, understood that the dies 10 and 14 are of alength corresponding to the length of the tube to be formed and that atube of any practical length, such as that shown in Fig. 5, may beformed and will be of a length to make a diiferent number of torpedocases by dividing it at the out line, Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Pat ent is:

1. The method of forming open ended fiber torpedo cases with an openended slot incorporated in the wall thereof, consisting in providing afiber sheet, partially wrapping said sheet upon a mandrel, applying asecond mandrel to the outside of -the partially Wrapped sheet, thencompleting the wrapping of the sheet and then withdrawing the twomandrels.

2. The method of making open ended fiber torpedo cases, With an openended slot incorporated in the wall thereof, consisting in partiallywrapping a fiber sheet upon a mandrel, applying a second mandrel to theout side of the wrapped portion of the sheet, completing the wrapping ofthe sheet, subjecting the wrapped sheet to outside shaping dies whilethe wrapped mandrels are therein, and finally withdrawing the wrappedmandrels from the completed case.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. FRANK DUTCHER. \Vitnesses GERTRUDE DAVIDSON, SIMON F.Lone.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

